Sometimes you need – or just want – a hands-off dinner that cooks itself while you’re busy. Slow cookers and pressure cookers are excellent for this! And an excellent, hard-to-screw-up slow cooker dish is steak tips in gravy.

Steak tips offer some cost flexibility. They either come from the tip of the very delicious and costly tenderloin, or from the still tasty but more affordable sirloin. If you’re looking to splurge for a fancy meal, look for tenderloin tips. But if you’re looking to save money, look for sirloin steak tips.

I recommend serving this main entrée alongside Butter and Thyme Green Beans (pictured), Roasted Carrots with Brown Butter and Dill, and/or Crispy Oven-Roasted Garlic Parmesan Potatoes.

TIP: This original recipe calls for cremini mushrooms. I personally adore mushrooms and the umami they bring to every dish. However, I realize not everyone feels the same way. If you prefer, simply leave them out (like I did in these photos for a dinner guest’s preferences).

Slow Cooker Steak Tips in Gravy
(Original recipe: Damn Delicious)

2 TBSP olive oil
2 lbs stew meat, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
4 C beef broth
1 TBSP tomato paste
1 TBSP Worcestershire sauce
2 tsp red wine vinegar
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1 onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
3 TBSP cornstarch
OPTIONAL: 8 oz cremini mushrooms, halved
2 TBSP chopped fresh parsley leaves
Salt and pepper to taste

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.

Season beef with salt and pepper, to taste. Add beef to the skillet and cook until evenly browned, about 2-3 minutes; set aside.

Whisk together beef broth, tomato paste, Worcestershire, red wine vinegar and thyme in a 4-qt slow cooker; season with salt and pepper, to taste.

Stir in beef, onion, and garlic. Cover and cook on low heat for 7-8 hours or high heat for 3-4 hours.
In a small bowl, whisk together cornstarch and 1/4 cup water.

Stir in mixture – and mushrooms, if using – into the slow cooker. Cover and cook on high heat for an additional 30 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened.

Serve immediately, garnished with parsley, if desired.